TABLE OF CONTENTS 



Page 



EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ii 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS iv 



TABLE OF CONTENTS v 



LIST OF TABLES vii 



LIST OF FIGURES xili 



INTRODUCTION 1 



THE MONTANA RIVERS STUDY 3 



Assessment Guidelines 4 



Statewide Results 10 



Protected Areas Recommendations 25 



DATA AVAILABILITY AND USES 29 



Data Uses 29 



DRAINAGE SUMMARIES 31 



KOOTENAI RIVER DRAINAGE 33 



Fisheries 35 



Wildlife 37 



Recreation 40 



Botanical Features 41 



Geologic Features 43 



UPPER FLATHEAD RIVER DRAINAGE 44 



Fisheries 44 



Wildlife 48 



Recreation 50 



Botanical Features 52 



Geologic Features 53 



UPPER CLARK FORK RIVER DRAINAGE 55 



Fisheries 57 



Wildlife 60 



Recreation 62 



Botanical Features 65 



Geologic Features 66 



LOWER CLARK FORK RIVER DRAINAGE 68 



Fisheries 68 



Wildlife 72 



Recreation 74 



Botanical Features 76 



Geologic Features 77 



BIG HOLE AND BEAVERHEAD RIVER DRAINAGES 78 



Fisheries 78 



Wildlife 82 



Recreation 84 



Botanical Features 86 



Geologic Features 87 



MISSOURI HEADWATER DRAINAGES 88 



Fisheries 90 



Wildlife 92 



Recreation 95 



Botanical Features 97 



Geologic Features 98 



